Covington Police Reports Arrest of 22 Child Sex Predators

The Covington Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division, through its Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit, in conjunction with the CPD Special Response Team, the 22nd Judicial District Attorney's Office Special Victims Unit Task Force, and the Office of the Louisiana Attorney General, has arrested 22 individuals since January 2026 who were attempting to meet with children for sexual purposes.

The operation, which remains ongoing, targeted individuals who used computers and social media platforms to solicit, to groom, and exploit minors. Those arrested ranged in age from 20 to 69 years old and came from across Louisiana and Mississippi.  One of those arrested was a registered sex offender at the time of his arrest. The 22 individuals arrested and charged are:

1. Adrien Arabie, 31, Ball, LA: Indecent Behavior with
   Juveniles, Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor, Child Grooming
2. Ralph Seibel, 58, Slidell, LA: Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor, Child Grooming
3. James Granier, 41, Loranger, LA: Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor, Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, Attempted Production/Possession of Pornography Involving Juveniles, Resisting an Officer
4. Waylon Byers, 38, Madisonville, LA: Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, Attempted Production/Possession of Pornography Involving Juveniles, Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor
5. Emanuel Hill, 20, Covington, LA: Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor
6. Lewis Peacock, 47, Covington, LA: Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor, Child Grooming
7. Chace Cullen, 41, Baton Rouge, LA: Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor, Attempted Production/Possession of Pornography Involving Juveniles
8. Taylor Tassin, 30, Folsom, LA: 14 Counts of Pornography Involving Children Under the Age of 13, Pornography Involving Juveniles
9. Joseph Bowen, 25, Slidell, LA: Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor
10. Raymond Keitt, 45, Covington, LA: Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, Indecent Behavior with Juveniles/Child Grooming, Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor
11. Jakoby Pettway, 25, New Orleans, LA: Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, Attempted Production/Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material, Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor
12. Joseph Amacker, 38, Pass Christian, MS: Indecent Behavior with Juveniles/Child Grooming
13. Jhameil Chambers, 30, Harvey, LA: 2 Counts each of Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, Indecent Behavior with Juveniles/Child Grooming, Attempted Production/Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material, Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor
14. Adam Wichers, 41, Diamondhead, MS: Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, Indecent Behavior with Juveniles/Child Grooming, Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor
15. Joshua Stankey, 31, Ponchatoula, LA: Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, Indecent Behavior with Juveniles/Child Grooming, Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor
16. James Howard, 30, Hattiesburg, MS: 3 Counts each of Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, Indecent Behavior with Juveniles/Child Grooming, Attempted Production/Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material, Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor
17. Andrew Thibodeaux, 34, Lafayette, LA: Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, Indecent Behavior with Juveniles/Child Grooming, Attempted Production/Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material, Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor
18. Spencer Walker, 44, Livingston, LA: Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, Indecent Behavior with Juveniles/Child Grooming, Attempted Production/Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material, Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor, Unlawful Use or Access of Social Media
19. Joseph DiBenedetto, 69, Tickfaw, LA: Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor
20. Gabriel Aysen, 22, Covington, LA: Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, Indecent Behavior with Juveniles/Child Grooming, Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor
21. Kolt Alan Johnson, 26, Amite, LA: Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile, Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile/Child Grooming, Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor
22. Dustin Fernandez, 35, Covington, LA: Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile, Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile/Child Grooming, Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor, Attempted Production/Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

The Covington Police Department and the 22nd Judicial District Attorney's Office Special Victims Unit Task Force would like to express sincere gratitude to the following agencies whose partnership and support were instrumental in making these arrests possible:

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
• United States Secret Service
• Washington Parish Sheriff's Office
• Franklinton Police Department
• Slidell Police Department
• Office of the Louisiana Attorney General

Chief of Police Michael Ferrell had this to say about the operation: "These arrests are a direct result of the dedication and relentless work of our ICAC investigators, Special Response Team, and our partners at the 22nd JDC District Attorney's Office Special Victims Unit Task Force. Protecting the children of our community is not just a priority for this department, it is a promise. Anyone who thinks they can use the internet as a tool to prey on children in or around Covington will find out quickly that we are watching, and we will come for you. We are not done."

A criminal charge is an accusation. All individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.